Another one bites the dust

This past week I was able to do something that I have been waiting and wishing to do for years.  I took a walk down to the ocean, busted a hole in the ice and touched the Arctic Ocean with my hand.  As such, I have now swam or touched in every ocean on earth.  Sure there is the argument that the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans can be divided into their northern and southern halves, but nonetheless, they are the same waterbody.  I have been waiting to complete this bucketlist item since I swam in the Southern Ocean off the southwest coast of Australia near Albany in 2007, leaving only the Arctic Ocean as my white whale.  I had hoped that last year I would have been able to touch the Northwest Passage when I was in Resolute Bay while working with UofT and CANDAC, however, it wasn't meant to be, and the Northwest Passage isn't truly the Arctic Ocean.

Amongst other things, I took some tourist photos on station this week, as well as a picture of an atmospheric phenomena known as a "sun dog".

Now that the oceans have been crossed off the list, I think mountains will be my next challenge.  Kilimanjaro 2020? Everest 2030?  Who's in?

Happy Trails

Mike



Sun Dogs - notice the two rainbows on the sides of the picture

Take your kids to work day

Good evening everyone.  Today was the first real day where I knew I wasn't in Kansas anymore.  The winds were howling, and the snow was blowing.  One of the elder guys on station who works in maintenance summed it up quite well when he said "...feels like the north pole."  To which I replied, "not really, it feels like the north pole."  There's an inside joke there, somewhere. 

Anywho kids, please enjoy these countless pictures.  I took a video today, but it took too long to upload.  Will try again on the weekend when bandwidths are more available.

Happy Trails

Mike

Sunset out at the GAW Lab - approx 16:40

The dark layer just above the ice, is the Arctic Ocean.  The wind blew the ice 

offshore and opened a large section of the ocean.

Cold, is a relative concept.

Toward the end of this past week, a storm was headed our way, and brought a few days worth of mid-level fog.  The fog caused some frost flowers, which can be seen in these pictures.  Enjoying the warmth of Autumn up here.  Hope all is well in the south, wherever you all are.

Happy Trails

Mike

Week 1 in Alert

Well it’s been about a week and a half now that I have been in Alert.  Things have settled in nicely, from what I can tell.  My first week on the job went well, and life on base is smooth sailing so far.  I liken it to being in first year university, in that everything is within one building and everyone is very open and social.  Activities are plentiful and encouraged by senior staff, but there is no pressure to join. 

Right now, we are amidst a two week procedure called “Operation Boxtop”, which is essentially a re-supply mission.  Supplies for the next 6 months were shipped north to Greenland via sealift during the spring/summer, and over the last week plus this upcoming week, flights run from Thule, Greenland to Alert bringing in any and all supplies required by those on base.  With this operation come 20-30 new personnel for the duration of Boxtop, bringing our total to approximately 120 people on base currently.  I arrived right before Boxtop commenced, so I have had a baptism by fire for my introduction to life in Alert.  But hey, why do things the slow way?   110% or nothing!

I am limited with what I can show via pictures, or discuss via text, about the logistics of this base.  Its main purpose is military communications/surveillance, as well as an underlying expression of Arctic Sovereignty.  Given these factors, I’ve been instructed not to discuss or display what I am exposed to here.  I am also limited by my employer, Environment Canada, with what I can discuss/display about my actual job as the GAW Lab Assistant Operator.  My apologies for that, but that is out of my control!

Enjoy the pics from this week.

Hope everyone is well

Happy Trails